Georgetown Police Department (GPD)

 

Harry Wiesner, Council Board Member, attended the 8th session of the 2008 Georgetown Citizens Academy.  Sgt. Lloyd Pearson conducted the class on the basic operations of the Police Services Division, Georgetown Police Department.

 

Organizational Overview

 

Chief of Police, David Morgan, welcomed the attendees.  Chief Morgan reviewed the organizational makeup of the Police Department and gave the Mission Statement of the GPD:

"To protect and serve the community of Georgetown's quest for a

peaceful and safe existence, free from fear, with democratic values

applied equally to all with a commitment to excellence by providing

the highest level of integrity, professionalism, and customer service

to enhance the quality of life of our community."

 

Chief Morgan reviewed the 2008/2009 budget requirements for the four arms of GPD. 

 The GPD has 112 personnel.

 Recruiting is a huge task for GPD.  During the last recruiting period, 75 applications were reviewed, and only one officer was hired.  The requirements are very strict and include a warrant check, a background check, an NCIC check, an FBI check, and several physical tests and requirements.  Failure of any one of these requirements eliminates the candidate.

 

History of Policing and Peel's Principles

 

Assistant Chief, Kevin Stofle, reviewed the history of policing and explained Peel's Principles.  In 1785, Sir William Pitt approached the British Parliament with a proposal for an enforcement program in London, England.  London was a haven for murderers and thieves at this time in history, but even so, Parliament turned Sir William down because it believed the program was too harsh and judgmental.  Forty-four years later, Sir Robert Peel introduced his nine principles of policing that appeased Parliament at that time, thus the beginning of England's police force.  The Peel Principles include:

·         Prevent crime and disorder

·         Approval of the general public

·         Voluntary observance of the law by the general public

·         Use of physical force relating proportionally to public support

·         Authority enhanced by impartial treatment of the laws

·         Force used only when persuasion or advice is ignored

·         Police are citizens, and citizens are police, but police are paid to enforce and uphold the law

·         Police do not usurp the judiciary

·         Police success is shown by the absence of crime and disorder

 

These basic principles, though modified through the years, hold true today.

 

Administrative Service Bureau

 

Chief Stofle explained some of the duties in the Administrative Service Bureau.  Projects such as recruiting, budget preparation, grant management, internal affairs, emergency management coordination, public information, maintenance of personnel records, and other administrative tasks. These projects, related to GPD, are examples of duties provided by this Bureau.

 

Professional standards are also an area of responsibility of this Bureau.  Chief Stofle indicated that the stringent tests and background investigations weed out most deficient individuals during the recruiting process, but sometimes individuals change, need to be counseled for misconduct, reexamined for a specific phase of their work, or released.  GPD takes every complaint very seriously and strives to ensure that all members of GPD maintain Professional Standards.

 

Field Operations Bureau

 

Lt. Todd Terbush explained the breakdown of the patrol organization.  Lt. Terbush is the Commander of the South Patrol;  Lt. Jerry Pate is the Commander of the North Patrol.  The San Gabriel River divides the north from the south through the City of Georgetown and it's Extraterritorial Jurisdictions (E.T.J.).  The Patrol Lieutenant is in charge of four sergeants and six to eight patrol officers and/or traffic officers (motorcycle officers).  The officers work 12-hour shifts with staggered days off.  There are no extra officers to cover illness or vacation time,  so many times, the commanders and/or the sergeants cover the radios and answer calls for assistance.  By doing this, the response time can continue to meet the 3 to 5-minute requirement.

 

Lt. Terbush said to date, during 2008, there have been more than 37,000 calls into dispatch.  Of these calls, approximately 18,000 accidents have been investigated, and the patrol officers have made 20,000 traffic stops.  The City of Georgetown has initiated a new false alarm ordinance for businesses and homeowners.  This new ordinance has reduced false alarms and freed up the patrol officers for citizen assistance.

 

Criminal Investigation Division (CID)

 

Sgt. Craig Murray explained the make-up of this division.  This unit conducts follow-up investigations on crimes reported to GPD.  Additionally, special units within CID investigate homicides, sex crimes, fraud, child abuse, vice, narcotics activity, parolee and sex-offender registration violations, and conduct fugitive apprehensive operations.  This Bureau's role is to review and assign cases within 24 hours of the initial report; weekends and holidays may often delay this review and assignment process.  There are four types of crimes:

There is also a crime scene unit attached to this Bureau.

 

Support Services Bureau

 

 Lt. Patrick Hurley is responsible for all technology projects.  For example, the Dispatch (911) area is a very high-tech area.  Lt. Hurley maintains equipment for five operators on two shifts.  Each operator works five computer screens with different capabilities. 

                        ° In case of cell phone calling on a DWI while in progress, the dispatcher can follow the route being driven and advise patrol

 

Among other things, this division is responsible for new techniques/technologies, e.g., Tazers - this is a brand name. It is an electrical control device that interrupts an individual's neuro-muscular system; GPS units; selections of new protective vests for patrol officers.

 

·         Communications Division

 

Ms. Jennifer Mosteller, civilian, is in charge of the Dispatchers and Operators, who handle all the incoming calls to the 911 Center.  Remember, they have handled more than 37,000 to date in 2008.  She works closely with Lt. Hurley to eliminate any down time caused by malfunctioning equipment in this critical area.

These operators work 12-hour shifts with staggered days off.

 

·         Emergency Response Team (ERT)

 

Sgt. Cory Tchida explained how this team differs from a SWAT operation.  This team has the same duties as a SWAT team, but is fewer in number and without armored vehicles.  This team has two snipers assigned who are responsible for any high-risk arrests and/or search operations or any other specialized tactical response operation.  Some of the specialized operations of this team include scouting techniques, barricaded subjects, bus assaults, dignitary protection, hostage situations, crowd control and many others.

 

·         Volunteers In Policing (VIPS)

 

Ms. Linda Lipscomb is in charge of this volunteer group.  Volunteers in GPD man many positions.  They help with office procedures, Blue Santa Operations, National Night Out, Safety Events, traffic control for special events, and many other interesting duties.  Citizens may join the VIPs by attending a Citizens Police Academy class.  A new class is scheduled for April 2009.

 

The next Georgetown Academy Class is December 11 and covers Community Services.

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